Europe Map

The Europe map comprises all the entities that come under any of the many common definitions of the European continent. These definitions include both political as well as geographical and even include those that come with these definitions partially. Fifty-six sovereign state, which includes six that have limited recognition, are listed as either having territory in Europe/ or are members of one or more of the international European organizations. There are also eight areas that do not form a part of a European country or have special political status.

About Europe

Europe is situated entirely in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Eastern Hemisphere. Covering an area of 3,930,000 square miles (10,180,000 square kilometers), Europe is the second smallest continent in the world. It covers an approximate 2 percent of the surface of the earth. According to a 2016 estimate, Europe comprises a population of 741 million people, which comprises around 11 percent of the world’s population.

The Arctic Ocean is located to the north of the continent, while The Atlantic Ocean is to its west. The Mediterranean Sea is situated to the south of Europe. The two continents of Europe and Asia are joined by land; however, the watershed divides of the Ural and the Caucasus Mountains, the Caspian and Black Seas, the Ural River, and the Turkish Straits are considered as demarcations between the two continents.

Europe comprises around 50 sovereign states. Among these, the Russian Federation, which spans the two continents of Asia and Europe, is the largest as well as the most populous. The European part of Russia covers around 39 percent of the area of the continent. It is also home to around 15 percent of the population of Europe.

The warm Atlantic currents determine the climate of the continent. These temper summers an winters on much of Europe. Seasonal differences are much clearly noticeable further from the sea rather than close to the coast.

Geographical boundaries of Europe

The nations of Russia, Kazakhstan, Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Turkey are known as the transcontinental states as their land covers both Asia and Europe. This is due to the fact that the common understanding is that the border between these two continents stretches along the Black Sea and the Greater Caucasus range in the south and the Ural River, the Caspian Sea and the Ural Mountains in the East.

Cyprus, which is an island in Western Asia, and is located in proximity to Anatolia, is often considered in Europe. It is also a member of the European Union. Similarly, Armenia is also a member of many European organizations; however, it is situated in Western Asia.

The division between Africa and Europe is much more distinct. The Mediterranean Sea divides the two continents. Despite this, there are a few islands that are located on the African continental plate but are considered a part of Europe. Some of these islands are Sicily, Pelagian Islands, Malta, and Pantelleria.

Greenland, which is considered a part of North America, has connections with Europe, as it is a part of the Kingdom of Denmark. A couple of European countries have their territories in other continents such as Ceuta and Melilla, which are a part of Spain, a country in Europe, but are located in Africa. Saba, Bonaire, and Sint Eustatius are Dutch territories but are located in the Caribbean.

Geography of Europe

Europe is the northwestern peninsula of Eurasia. Asia is the eastern part of this huge landmass. The Ural Mountains in Russia define the eastern frontier of the continent. As per the modern definition, the Ural River, and at times the Emba River, is generally defined as the southeast boundary. The boundary continues to the Caspian Sea and the crest of the Caucasus Mountains. From there it continues to the Black Sea. The Sea of Marmara, the Dardanelles, and the Bosporus end the continents boundary with Asia.

The Mediterranean Sea acts as the boundary between the two continents of Europe and Africa. The Atlantic Ocean is the western boundary of Europe. Iceland, which is much nearer to Greenland, which is in North America, is considered a part of Europe due to cultural reasons.

History of Europe

Europe has a rich history which spans many millennia. The history of the continent can be traced to the period referred as the classical antiquity. It was during this period that the ancient Greek City States emerged. This period was followed by that of the Roman Empire, which lasted for around a thousand years. The Roman Empire declined in around 476 AD and with it began the Middle Ages. The 14th century witnessed the Renaissance and also that of Protestant Reformation.

Europe became a prosperous continent with the advent of the Industrial Revolution in the 19th century. Many of the leading European powers such as Spain, the United Kingdom, Portugal, etc, also established colonies in Asia, Africa, and South America.

In the early and mid-twentieth century, Europe witnessed the devastating World War 1 and World War 2, which resulted in massive destruction and loss of life. The Cold War followed the World War2. On one side were the Soviet Union and its allies while on the other was the United States and its allies. The Cold War, which began in 1947, came to an end in 1989. Two years later, the Soviet Union disintegrated into 15 countries. Today, many of the European nations are a part of the European Union. The United States, along with many nations situated west of Russia, is a part of the NATO.